Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have launched the establishment of a multilateral collaboration network centered on the MobED platform to provide robotics functions optimized to user needs.

The two companies announced on the 4th at the 2026 Smart Factory + Automation World (AW2026), held at COEX in Seoul, that they had held a MobED Alliance inauguration ceremony on site and would begin supplying the device to the domestic market. The partnership brings together Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab, major manufacturers such as Hyundai Transys and SL, robotics specialists including LS TeMuitec and Gaon Robotics, and the Korea Association of AI & Robotics Industries, among others.

The formation of this alliance goes beyond the simple distribution of mechanical devices and reflects a market trend that demands fully developed operational systems that can be immediately deployed in industrial sites. At the center of the ecosystem, MobED is a compact mobile platform equipped with a drive system in which four wheels move independently. Its structure flexibly responds to differences in ground level, ensuring driving stability as a key strength.

In particular, this platform is designed so that the upper module mounted on top of the device can be freely exchanged according to the intended use. This enables deployment in various fields, including outdoor delivery of goods, on-site surveillance, and video filming. Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to move away from selling only the platform itself and instead pursue a strategy of proposing integrated solutions optimized for specific industries in partnership with specialized companies in each field.

The collaboration framework is segmented by role. The Robotics Lab supports device development and core technologies, while around 10 component manufacturers are responsible for mass-producing key parts. Five solution providers will produce 10 types of practical modules for uses such as logistics, drone hubs, and billboards, and deploy them in the field, while related institutions will support verification environments for actual adoption.

On the same day, Hyundai Motor and Kia unveiled the mass-production model of MobED in Korea for the first time and operated a 180㎡ experience zone. The exhibition space featured ramps, uneven surfaces, and curbs that replicated actual outdoor environments, allowing visitors to see the device traverse terrain that is difficult for conventional mobile robots to pass. Visitors directly experienced the device’s horizontal stability and ease of operation across three zones: manual control, autonomous driving, and broadcasting.

Hyun Dong-jin, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab, stated that technology whose innovativeness has been recognized is evolving into a practical industrial tool through this alliance, and added that, together with partner companies, the group will strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s robotics industry and expand the intelligent hardware ecosystem.

Meanwhile, MobED received the Best of Innovation Award in the Robotics category at CES 2026 in January, in recognition of its technological capabilities. Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to use the launch of this collaboration framework as a starting point to embed physical AI capabilities that combine software and hardware across industries, thereby continuing technological innovation.

Popular News